There is a nation-wide shortage of the flu vaccine, result of manufacturing problems, but Tufts Health Services was nevertheless able to offer hundreds of students flu immunizations at a series of clinics. Health Services will donate the remaining vaccines from the clinics to Medford and Somerville medical facilities.
Physicians across the country were frustrated in late October when they were forced to refuse patients flu shots. Grocery chains received vaccine doses before many private doctors, and in many places, people had to line up at stores to get shots instead of at visits with their doctors.
Federal health officials recommended that healthy people wait until last month to get their shots to let the elderly, pregnant women, and people with chronic illnesses such as asthma, heart disease, or weak immune systems get vaccinated first.
Tufts was fortunate to get an early shipment of the vaccine, and despite this advisory, flu-shots were offered throughout the fall. Everyone who wanted a vaccine during the clinic was able to get one, according to Medical Director Margaret Higham of Health Services.
"There was a big shortage of vaccine nationwide," Higham said. "And it was tough because we had vaccines and wanted to offer it to our students. On the other hand we realize the student population is generally healthy, and we didn't want to deprive the ill. [So] it was a real bind for us ethically. But we chose the middle of the road."
Health Services sent out an e-mail to students that advertised the immunizations and signs were posted across campus. After the last clinic, Health Services decided to donate the remaining vaccines to local communities who needed it more. Students are no longer able to get flu-shots from Health Services, but there are signs that the national shortage is lightening up.
